Zindigi Launches Overseas Accounts Letting Expats Bank in Pakistan Without a Local SIM

Zindigi, the digital banking platform powered by JS Bank, has launched Overseas Accounts, a service that lets Pakistanis living abroad open and manage a bank account in Pakistan entirely online, without needing a Pakistani mobile number or visiting a branch. The company described the move as part of its broader effort to make banking simpler and more accessible for Pakistanis around the world.

Under the new offering, eligible overseas Pakistanis can register with their existing international WhatsApp number and open a fully digital account that comes with an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) rather than a conventional digital wallet. The setup is designed to address a common hurdle for expatriates, who have historically needed local SIMs or in-person visits to maintain banking relationships back home.

The account is aimed at the everyday financial needs of the diaspora. Customers can support family members, pay utility bills, cover household expenses and make local transfers inside Pakistan through the Zindigi app from wherever they live. Digital onboarding is open to eligible holders of a Pakistan Origin Card (POC), a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

Customers can pick between two account types: Non-Resident Account Repatriable (NRAR) and Non-Resident Account Non-Repatriable (NRAN), depending on their needs and the applicable regulatory requirements. The distinction allows users to choose a structure that fits how they intend to move funds in and out of the country.

Noman Azhar, Co-Founder and Chief Officer of Zindigi by JS Bank, said the platform's vision is to make banking simpler, more accessible and truly borderless for every Pakistani. He said geographical boundaries should never limit access to financial services, and that allowing overseas Pakistanis to open and manage accounts digitally with international mobile numbers brings banking closer to millions of people who live abroad but remain closely tied to Pakistan.

The launch adds to a growing push by Pakistani digital banks to serve the country's large overseas community, a group whose remittances are a major source of foreign exchange for the economy. Zindigi said the service reflects its commitment to removing traditional barriers through digital innovation and extending essential financial services beyond geographical borders.